Olympic National Park Options

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Glacier capped mountains, wild Pacific coast and magnificent stands of oldgrowth forests, including temperate rain forests at Olympic National Park, you can find all three. About 95% of the park is designated wilderness, which further protects these diverse and spectacular ecosystems. Olympic is also known for its biological diversity. Isolated for eons by glacial ice, and later the waters of Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Olympic Peninsula has developed its own distinct array of plants and animals. Eight kinds of plants and 15 kinds of animals are found on the peninsula but no where else on Earth.


Address:
600 East Park Avenue
Port Angeles, WA 98362-6798

Phone: Visitor Information (360) 5653130 Visitor Information Recorded Message (360) 5653131 Visitor Information (TTY) 18008336388

MAP

http://www.nps.gov/carto/PDF/OLYMmap1.pdf

[Googlebot]

[treehugger]

Olympic National Park – Green As Can Be
By Nomadrick Chapo

If you love the color green, Olympic National Park is for you.
Located in the State of Washington, this park is simply
beautiful.

With plenty of rain throughout the year, the park is in a
constant state of insanely beautiful green. Much bigger than it
first appears, Olympic spreads over 900,000 acres. The geography
ranges from coastline to thick forest to mountains capped with
glaciers. Much of the park is classified as a rain forest,
which means you’ll need a coat to handle the cool temperatures
most of the time. This is made up, however, by waterfalls that
pour off of cliff faces into pools of crystal clear water.

Located roughly two hours outside of Seattle, Olympic National
Park is 95 percent wilderness. This untamed geography is an odd
contrast so close to a major city. Despite the close location,
the park is home to over 1,000 plant species, 300 bird species
and 70 mammal species. Of this collection, the park is the only
place in the world where 15 types of animals and 8 plant species
can be found.

With its northwestern location, water is a constant at Olympic
National Park. Depending on the time of year, rain can be a
constant. Annually, parts of the park receive roughly 12 feet
of rain. This massive volume of rain has a side benefit, to
wit, the forested areas of the park have grown massive. Old
growth trees top 200 feet in some areas and the ground area is
covered with ferns like you’ve never seen before in your life.

With so much rain, it probably isn’t a surprise the park
contains over 3,000 miles of waterways and 29 species of fish.
Of note, Steelhead and Pacific Salmon use the rivers to migrate
to and from the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, no fishing is
allowed in the park.

If you visit Olympic National Park, it is best to just start
cruising the trails. With over 600 miles of them, you’ll have
plenty to do.

About the Author: Rick Chapo is with
http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of diary and writing
journals. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com to read more
about the great outdoors.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

[blueskyguy]

The huge rain storm in Nov. 2006 caused some damage to Olympic National Park and the Olympic Rain Forest.
It's estimated that the repair bil is $5.5 million dollars.
The Hoh Rain Forest Road was opened on May 1st, 2007. Because of the damage you may want to call ahead to check conditions. Notices: (call (360) 565-3131 for road conditions)

Olympic National Parks website updates conditions for the following wilderness hiking trails. There is a website link below.

Hiking Trails
Staircase Area

North Fork Skokomish River Trail
Wagonwheel Lake Trail
Home Sweet Home Trail
Four Stream Trail
Flapjack Lakes Trail
Upper Lena Lake Trail
Glady Divide Primitive Trail
Black & White Lakes Primitive Trail
Smith Lake Primitive Trail
Six Ridge Primitive Trail
Putvin Primitive Trail
Duckabush River Trail

Dosewallips Area
Lake Constance Trail
Trailhead at Dose Road to Lake Constance
West Fork Dosewallips River Trail
LaCrosse Pass Trail
Anderson Moraine Trail
Main Fork Dosewallips River Trail
Dosewallips River Trail
Constance Pass Trail
Lost Pass Primitive Trail
Gray Wolf Pass Trail

Hurricane Ridge Area
Royal Basin Trail
Three Forks Trail
Upper Gray Wolf River Trail
Cedar Lake Way Trail
Cameron Creek Trail
Grand Pass Trail
Cameron Pass Trail
Cameron-Lost Pass Primitive Trail
Deer Ridge Trail
Badger Valley Trail
Elk Mountain Primitive Trail
Obstruction Point-Deer Park Trail
PJ Lake Primitive Trail
Cox Valley Primitive Trail
Lake Angeles Trail
Heather Park Trail
Switchback Trail
Hurricane Klahhane Ridge Trail
Wolf Creek Trail
Little River Trail
Elwha to Hurricane Hill Trail
Heart O' The Forest Trail

Elwha Area
Griff Creek Trail
Elwha River Trail
Humes Ranch Loop
Lillian River Trail
Hayden Pass Trail
Long Ridge Trail
Dodger Point Primitive Trail
Elwha Basin Way Trail
Happy Hollow Trail
Happy Lake Ridge Trail
Olympic Hot Springs Trail
Appleton Pass Trail
Boulder Lake Trail
West Elwha Trail
Upper Lake Mills Trail
West Lake Mills Trail

Northwest Trails
Lake Crescent Area
Mt. Storm King Trail
Barnes Creek Trail
Upper Barnes Creek Primitive Trail
Aurora Divide Trail
Aurora Creek Trail
Aurora Ridge Trail
Pyramid Peak Trail
Spruce Railroad Trail


Sol Duc Area
NORTH FORK SOL DUC RIVER TRAIL
SOL DUC RIVER TRAIL
APPLETON PASS TRAIL
HIGH DIVIDE TRAIL
CAT BASIN PRIMITIVE TRAIL
LUNCH LAKE TRAIL
DEER LAKE TRAIL
MINK LAKE TRAIL
LOVER’S LANE TRAIL
LITTLE DIVIDE TRAIL


Hoh Bogachiel Area
NORTH SNIDER-JACKSON TRAIL (RUGGED RIDGE)
BOGACHIEL RIVER TRAIL
SOUTH SNIDER-JACKSON TRAIL
HOH RIVER TRAIL
MT. OLYMPUS
HOH LAKE TRAIL
SOUTH FORK HOH RIVER TRAIL


Southwest Trails
Quinault Area
Irely Lake Trail
Big Creek Trail
Three Lakes Trail
Skyline Primitive Trail
Elip Creek Trail
Martin's Park Primitive Trail
North Fork Quinault River Trail
East Fork Quinault River Trail
O'Neil Pass Trail
Graves Creek Primitive Trail
Wynoochee Pass Trail
South Fork Skokomish River Trail
Sundown Lake Trail


Queets River Area
Queets River Trail
Lower Crossing Route
Upper Crossing Route


Coastal Trails & Routes

North Coast

North Shi Shi Access Trail
Shi Shi to Ozette River Beach Route
Cape Alava to Ozette River Beach Route
Cape Alava Trail
Cape Alava to Sand Point Beach Route
Sand Point Trail
North Coast Beach Route
Erickson's Bay Primitive Trail

South Coast
Trail Name
Second Beach Trail
Third Beach Trail
South Coast Beach Route
Oil City Trail

http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/wild...-conditions.htm

Please share some information here with others on your visit!